NAASCU's 10th season under way

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping will be the guest of honor and speaker when the 10th National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) basketball tournament finally comes off the wraps at 9 a.m. today at the Rizal Coliseum.

Angping will deliver the inspirational remarks during the colorful opening ceremony highlighted by the traditional parade of teams and the selection of Mr. and Ms. NAASCU.

BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman Gov. Oscar Moreno and ABS-CBN managing director Gina Lopez have also been invited to attend the opening ceremony of this 12-school collegiate sports league.

Moreno and Lopez will also give inspirational messages to the member-teams.

NAASCU president Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem of St. Clare College-Caloocan will deliver the welcome remarks.

Engr. Josie Balon of AMA Computer University will introduce Moreno, Fr. Emilio Jaruda of San Sebastian College-Cavite will introduce Angping and Atty. Ernesto de los Santos of University of Manila will introduce Ms. Lopez.

Raymond Alcasabas of SSC-Cavite will lead the oath of sportsmanship.

Hostilities begin at 12 noon with defending champion SSC-Cavite and multi-titled UM battling each other in a rematch of last year’s title showdown.

The Egay Macaraya-mentored Baycats defeated the Hawks, 2-0, in the scheduled best-of-three title series last year to capture their second straight title in the 12-team annual tournament.

The Hawks dominated the first five stagings of the league where they posted a record 86-game winning streak.

“We expect this year’s NAASCU basketball competition to be as successful as the previous nine years,” said Adalem. “SSC-Cavite is gunning for its third straight title, but the rest of the teams have prepared long and hard to make a run for the title this year.”